JPH11344859A - Developing equipment and process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a toner leak by surely recovering undeveloped toner on a developing sleeve after development in the opening of a developing container. SOLUTION: In an area where undeveloped toner on a developing sleeve 5 is recovered, a sealing member 17 composed of a flexible sheet (SUS 304) is disposed so that its one end is fixed to a frame 18 and its free end, the other end is in frictional contact with the developing sleeve 5. The undeveloped toner is prevented from receiving electric field by which it is pulled and peeled in the direction of the sealing member 17, by applying a bias to it from a power source 20 as well as to the developing sleeve 5, thereby making the developing sleeve 5 and the sealing member 17 equal potential. Thus, the toner is prevented from leaking from the lower part of the developing sleeve 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and an electrophotographic printer, a developing device of the image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge including at least the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier is visualized as a toner image by a developing device. As one of such developing devices, various dry one-component developing devices have been proposed and put into practical use. However, it is difficult for any developing device to form a thin layer of toner, which is a one-component developer, on a developer carrier.

However, at present, there is a demand for improvements in image resolution and resolution, and development of a method and apparatus for forming a thin layer of toner is indispensable, and several measures have been proposed for this. ing.

For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-43038, an elastic blade made of a material such as metal or rubber is brought into contact with a developing sleeve of a developer carrier, and the elastic blade is brought into contact with the developing sleeve. By regulating the toner by passing the toner between the portions, a thin layer of the toner is formed on the developing sleeve, and sufficient tribo is given to the toner by friction at the contact portion.

In this case, when the non-magnetic toner is regulated by the elastic blade, a toner supply member for supplying the toner onto the developing sleeve is separately required. This is because in the case of a magnetic toner, the toner can be supplied onto the developing sleeve by the magnetic force of a magnet in the developing sleeve, but in the case of a non-magnetic toner, the toner cannot be supplied by the magnetic force.

Therefore, a developing device 50 as shown in FIG.
Was proposed. In this conventional developing device 50, a polyurethane foam that comes into contact with the developing sleeve 52 at a position upstream of the elastic blade 51 in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 52 in a developing container 54 containing a non-magnetic toner 53 as a one-component developer, An elastic roller 55 using a foam made of a sponge or the like or a fur brush is provided.
Has been supplied.

The toner 53 supplied onto the developing sleeve 52 is sent to a contact portion between the elastic blade 51 and the developing sleeve 52 with the rotation of the developing sleeve 52 to be thinned, and the photosensitive drum as an image carrier is formed. 1 for developing the electrostatic latent image. Then, the toner 53 remaining without being consumed in the development on the developing sleeve 52 is peeled off by the elastic roller 55, and new toner 53 is supplied to the developing sleeve 52 by the elastic roller 55 as described above. repeat. At this time, when a metal material is used as the developing sleeve 52, a metal thin plate as the elastic blade 51 is not preferable in terms of abrasion of the developing sleeve. To obtain a good toner thin layer, urethane, silicon It is necessary to use a rubber material such as

By adopting such a configuration, a thin layer can be favorably formed on the developing sleeve of the non-magnetic toner. However, because a non-magnetic toner is used, a magnetic attraction force cannot be used as compared with a magnetic developing device that can easily hold the toner on the surface of the developing sleeve by the action of a magnetic field using a magnetic toner.
It becomes difficult to prevent the toner 53 from leaking out of the developing device 50. In other words, since the elastic blade 51 escapes from the pressure contact portion of the developing sleeve 52 and has no force that the developing sleeve 51 can hold except for the toner that is sufficiently frictionally charged,
Leakage of the toner from the lower portion and the vicinity of the end of the developing sleeve 52 to the outside, that is, so-called toner leakage, is likely to occur, and the inconvenience of soiling the toner inside the image forming apparatus is likely to occur.

For this reason, a flexible developer seal member (hereinafter simply referred to as a "seal member") 56 is provided at the lower portion of the developing container 54 at the toner collecting portion which comes into contact with the developing sleeve 52 with light pressure. The passage of the toner is allowed, and the toner 53 in the developing container 54 is prevented from leaking from a lower portion of the developing container 54.

The above-described developing device is used for small-sized copying machines and page printers. Recently, in order to facilitate maintenance, the developing device is unitized, or the developing device and a process cartridge or a photosensitive drum or a cleaner are used. And a device that can be exchanged as a cartridge integrated with a charging device.

In the above-mentioned cartridges and developing units, various sealings are applied to the developing devices because toner may leak due to a slight impact applied to the developing devices at the time of replacement. In particular, at the opening on the developing sleeve 52 for collecting undeveloped toner into the developing device, a seal member 56 for preventing the toner inside the developing device from flowing out of the device without hindering the toner collection. Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 19, the sealing member 56 is in the form of a rectangular sheet wider than the developing area of the developing sleeve 52, and has one end in the longitudinal direction at the lower wall of the developing device, that is, the lower frame. 57, and one of its free ends is brought into contact with the developing sleeve 52 by its own elasticity along the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 52, and rubs. As a material of the seal member 56, a thin urethane rubber, a film-like weak polycarbonate, PET, or the like is used. At the time of collecting the toner, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 20, the seal member 56 does not fall into the inside of the developing device and does not hinder the collection of the toner. Further, leakage of toner from inside the developing device is prevented by tight contact with the developing sleeve 52.

[0013]

However, when the developing operation is repeated many times using the above-mentioned conventional developing device, the toner 53 is a non-magnetic single component, so that the charge amount is high.
The frame 57 and the entire surface of the developing device are charged. According to the experiment, there are many portions in the longitudinal direction of the frame 57 that are charged with the polarity opposite to that of the toner 53. Therefore, in such a portion, when a developing bias is applied, an electric field is generated in a direction in which the toner 53 is peeled off from the developing sleeve 52 to the seal member 56 when collecting the toner. Then, the toner 53 remains on the seal member 56 at the time of collection, spills, and causes a problem that a so-called toner leak occurs, which significantly contaminates the inside of the image forming apparatus.

Further, when the developing operation is repeated a number of times using the above-mentioned conventional developing device, an impact,
Vibration occurs. These are added to the developing device and the frame 5
7 and also a seal member 56 disposed thereon, causing a gap in the contact surface with the developing sleeve 52 and causing toner leakage that significantly contaminates the inside of the image forming apparatus. Was.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to reliably recover the undeveloped developer on the developer carrier after development at the opening,
An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of preventing developer leakage, a process cartridge including at least the developing device, and an image forming apparatus provided with the developing device or the process cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of preventing the developer seal member from being deformed due to the distortion of the developing device due to the repetition of the developing operation, thereby reducing the sealing performance, and a process including at least the developing device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including a cartridge, the developing device, or the process cartridge.

[0017]

The above object is achieved by a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides a developing container having an opening for accommodating a developer, a developer carrier rotatably disposed at the opening to carry and transport the developer, One end is attached to the wall of the developer container below the developer carrier, and the other free end is arranged to rub against the surface of the developer carrier, and is wider than the developing area. A developer seal member, wherein the developer seal member has a conductive material in a part or the entire area of the contact portion with the developer carrier, and when the bias is applied, the developer seal member A developing device wherein a member has the same potential as the developer carrier.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer container having an opening for accommodating a developer, and a developer carrier rotatably disposed at the opening to carry and transport the developer. One end is attached to the developing container wall below the developer carrying member at the opening, and the other free end is arranged to rub against the surface of the developer carrying member; and A process cartridge that includes at least a developing device having a wide elastic developer seal member, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. In the process cartridge, the developer seal member is configured to be in contact with the developer carrier. A process cartridge is provided in which a part or the whole is made of a conductive material, and the developer seal member has the same potential as the developer carrier when a bias is applied.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing container having an image carrier for carrying an image, having an opening for accommodating a developer, and a rotatable arrangement at the opening. A developer carrying member for carrying and transporting a developer, and one end attached to the opening of the developing container wall below the developer carrying member, and the other free end sliding on the surface of the developer carrying member. In an image forming apparatus having a developing device provided with an elastic developer seal member that is arranged to be rubbed and is wider than a development area, the developer seal member may be in contact with the developer carrier. An image forming apparatus is provided in which a part or the whole of the contact portion is made of a conductive material, and the developer seal member has the same potential as the developer carrier when a bias is applied.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the developer seal member has a dedicated bias application route.
It is preferable that the developer seal member has direct continuity with the developer carrier outside the development area. According to another aspect, a bias application route to the developer seal member includes a bias application route dedicated to the developer seal member, and a bias application route that is directly connected to the developer carrier outside the development area. It is preferable to have

It is preferable that the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is made conductive by a surface contact or a line contact using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring or a coil spring. According to another aspect, it is preferable that the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is point-contacted by using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring to ensure reliable conduction.

It is preferable that the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is brought into contact with a cable or a flexible printed wiring so as to ensure conduction. It is preferable that the dedicated bias application route is formed through a back side of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. According to another aspect, it is preferable that the dedicated bias application route is formed so as to pass through the end face of the developer carrier facing the image carrier.

It is preferable that the developer sealing member is attached in a state where an attachment portion to the developing container is elastically deformed. It is preferable that the developer seal member is in contact with the developer carrying member on the side of the cutout.
It is preferable that a rolled metal plate is used for the developer seal member. According to another aspect, it is preferable that the developer sealing member uses a vapor-deposited or coated sheet. According to still another aspect, it is preferable that the developer seal member be a sheet that has been removed by pressing. According to still another aspect, it is preferable that the developer seal member uses a sheet made by edging.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier rotates in the direction of arrow A, is uniformly charged by a charging device 2 for charging the photosensitive drum 1, and is irradiated with a laser beam 3 as an exposure means. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.

This electrostatic latent image is arranged in proximity to the photosensitive drum 1 and is developed by a developing device 4 detachable from the image forming apparatus main body as a process cartridge, and is visualized as a toner image. In this embodiment, so-called reversal development for forming a toner image on an exposed portion is performed.

The visualized toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to paper 13 as a recording medium by a transfer roller 9, and the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is scraped off by a cleaning blade 10. The photosensitive drum 1, which is stored in the waste toner container 11 and cleaned, repeats the above-described operation to form an image.

On the other hand, the paper 13 to which the toner image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by the fixing device 12 and discharged out of the device.
The printing operation ends.

The developing device 4 of this embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG.

The developing device 4 has a developing container 14 containing a non-magnetic toner 8 as a one-component developer, and an opening extending in the longitudinal direction thereof has a developer disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 1. A developing sleeve 5 as a carrier is attached, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed and visualized.

The developing sleeve 5 is provided laterally with an approximately half right peripheral surface shown in the figure protruding into the developing container 14 at the opening, and a substantially left half peripheral surface exposed outside the developing container 14. This developing container 1
The surface exposed to the outside is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 located on the left side of the developing device 4 in the figure with a slight minute interval.

The developing sleeve 5 is rotated in the direction of arrow B,
The surface has moderate irregularities for increasing the probability of rubbing with the toner 8 and for carrying the toner 8 satisfactorily. In the present embodiment, the surface of an aluminum sleeve having a diameter of 20 mm is subjected to a fixed blasting process using glass beads (# 600) to have a surface roughness Ra of about 0.8 μm, and the gap with the photosensitive drum 1 is reduced to 300 μm. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotated at a peripheral speed of 80 mm / s which is slightly faster than the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 1 of 50 mm / s. In order to prevent toner leakage from both ends of the developing sleeve 5, as shown in FIG.
4, and seals both ends of the developing sleeve 5.

In FIG. 2, a rubber material such as urethane or silicon or a thin metal plate of SUS or phosphor bronze having spring elasticity is used as a base at a position above the developing sleeve 5. An elastic blade 7 made of a rubber material or the like is provided on the blade supporting metal plate 15 so that the vicinity of the free end is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 5. The contact direction is a so-called counter direction in which the leading end side with respect to the contact portion is located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5.

In the present embodiment, the elastic blade 7 is made of a plate-like urethane rubber having a thickness of 1.0 mm.
The contact pressure against the developing sleeve 5 is 25 to 35 g / cm (the linear pressure was measured by inserting three thin metal plates having a known friction coefficient into the contact portion, and 1
The value was calculated from the value obtained by pulling out the sheets with a spring. ).

The elastic roller 6 is in contact with the contact portion of the elastic blade 7 with the surface of the developing sleeve 5 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5 and is rotatably supported.
As this structure, a foamed skeleton sponge structure or a fur brush structure in which fibers such as rayon and nylon are planted on a cored bar are used in terms of supplying the toner 8 to the developing sleeve 5 and removing undeveloped toner. Preferably, in this embodiment, an elastic roller 6 having a diameter of 18 mm and a polyurethane foam provided on a cored bar was used.

The width of contact of the elastic roller 6 with the developing sleeve 5 is preferably 1 to 8 mm, and it is preferable that the elastic roller 6 has a relative speed at the contact portion with the developing sleeve 5. , Contact width 3mm
And the peripheral speed of the elastic roller 6 is set to 50 during the developing operation.
mm / s (the relative speed with respect to the developing sleeve 5 is 130 mm / s
The driving means (not shown) was driven to rotate at a predetermined timing so as to satisfy s).

FIG. 3 is a view of the developing device 4 of FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of the arrow X. For convenience of explanation, the developing sleeve 5 is not shown.

The elastic blade 7 is, as shown in FIG.
The distance from the contact nip with the developing sleeve 5 to the tip of the elastic blade 7 indicated by the hatched portion in the drawing is configured to be continuously shortened from the normal developing region to both ends of the elastic blade 7. The blade tip positions at both ends are configured to be within the contact nip.

That is, the thickness of the toner layer formed on the developing sleeve 5 is affected by the distance from the point upstream of the contact nip in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5 to the leading end. It is conventionally known that the toner layer to be formed becomes thicker and the toner layer becomes thinner as the toner layer becomes shorter. In this embodiment, the developing distance corresponding to the uncontacted portion of the elastic roller 6 is compared with this distance in the normal developing area. By reducing this distance in the area where the sleeve comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the sleeve, the regulating force on the toner in the above area is increased.

The toner 8 is a non-magnetic one-component developer,
As described above, when the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is cleaned with a cleaning means such as a blade or a fur brush, the lubricating property is high. A toner having advantages such as a small amount, that is, a toner having a spherical shape and a smooth surface is used.

Specifically, the toner volume resistance value is 1
0 ¹⁴ Ω or more, measurement conditions were as follows: measurement electrode plate area: diameter 6 mm, 0.283 cm ² , pressure: using a weight of 1500 g, pressure of 980 g / cm ² (96.1 kPa), powder layer thickness at measurement : 0.5 to 1.0 mm, applying a DC voltage of 400 V, a microammeter (YHP4140pAmeter /
An ammeter is measured by DC VOLTAGE SOURCE, and a volume resistance value (specific resistance) is calculated from the resistance value.

As the shape factor, SF-1 is 100 to 1
80 and an SF-2 of 100 to 140 is used.

The SF-1 and SF-2 are manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.
Using E-SEM (S-800), a toner image
00 are sampled, the image information is introduced into an image analysis device (Luzex3) manufactured by Nicole via an interface, analyzed, and a value calculated by the following equation is defined.

SF-1 = {(MXLNG) ² / AREA} × (π /
4) × 100 SF-2 = {(PERI) ² / AREA} × (π / 4)
× 100 (MXLNG: absolute maximum length, AREA: toner projection area, PERI: peripheral length) The shape factor SF-1 of this toner indicates a spherical degree and is 10
As the size increases from 0, the shape gradually changes from a spherical shape to an irregular shape. SF-2 indicates the degree of unevenness. As the value increases from 100, the unevenness on the surface of the toner becomes remarkable.

As for the method of producing the toner, if the toner falls within the range of the above-mentioned shape factor, besides the production method by the so-called pulverization method, JP-A-36-10231 and JP-A-59-53856 A method of directly producing a toner using the suspension polymerization method described, or a dispersion polymerization method of directly producing a toner using a water-based inducing solvent in which the obtained polymer is insoluble and soluble in a monomer, or It is possible to produce a toner by using an emulsion polymerization method typified by a soap-free polymerization method of directly polymerizing in the presence of a water-soluble polar initiator to form a toner.

In this embodiment, the shape factor S of the toner
F-1 is 100 to 180, SF-2 is 100 to 140
Styrene and n-butyl as monomers using a suspension polymerization method under normal pressure or under pressure that can easily control and obtain a particle toner having a sharp particle size distribution and a particle size of 4 to 8 μm relatively easily. An acrylate, a salicylic acid metal compound as a charge control agent, a saturated polyester as a polar resin, and a colorant are added, and the weight average particle size is 7 μm.
m of colored suspended particles were produced.

Then, 1.5 wt.
%, The toner 8 having excellent transferability as described above and having a small amount of wear during cleaning of the photosensitive drum 1 was produced.

In the developing device 4 shown in FIG.
During the developing operation, the toner 8 in the developing container 14 is sent in the direction of the elastic roller 6 with the rotation of the stirring member 16 in the direction of arrow C.

Next, the elastic roller 6 is moved by the arrow D
As it rotates in the direction, it is transported to the vicinity of the developing sleeve 5. The toner carried on the elastic roller 6 rubs against the developing sleeve 5 at a contact portion between the developing sleeve 5 and the elastic roller 6, thereby receiving a triboelectric charge, and adheres to the developing sleeve 5.

Thereafter, the toner 8 adhering to the developing sleeve 5 is sent under the pressure contact of the elastic blade 7 with the rotation of the developing sleeve 5 in the direction of arrow B, where it receives an appropriate tribo (a triboelectric charge amount). A thin layer is formed on the developing sleeve 5. In the present embodiment, a good charge amount
60 to -20 μC / g, as a good toner coating amount,
It is set so that 0.4 to 1.0 mg / cm ² can be obtained.

Next, the thin toner layer formed on the developing sleeve 5 is uniformly conveyed to a developing section which is a section facing the photosensitive drum 1.

In this developing section, a thin toner layer formed on the developing sleeve 5 is provided with an alternating voltage (developing AC bias) obtained by superimposing a direct current applied between the developing sleeve 5 and the photosensitive drum 1 from the power source 20. The photosensitive drum 1
The upper electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image.

The undeveloped toner image not consumed in the developing section is recovered from the lower part of the developing sleeve 5 as the developing sleeve 5 rotates. A seal member 17 made of a flexible sheet is provided at the collection portion.

The sealing member 17 is provided on the container frame 18.
In order to prevent the sealing member 17 from waving, the container frame 18 is turned in the direction of the arrow in the figure as shown in FIG.
The sealing member 17 is attached as shown in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, by releasing the warping of the container frame 18, the deformation of the container frame 18 caused by the warping is returned to the original state, and the sealing member 17 is used. Tension was applied in the direction of the arrow in the figure to prevent waving deformation and improve sealing performance with the developing sleeve 5.

The sealing member 17 has a sheet shape as shown in FIG. 3, is wider in the longitudinal direction than the developing region, and has one end in the longitudinal direction on the lower frame 18 which is the wall of the developing container 14. It is fixed, and the other free end is in contact with and rubs against the developing sleeve 5 by its own elasticity so as to be along the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5.

The material of the seal member 17 is SUS304, and a metal such as phosphor bronze can be used as another material.

As shown in FIG. 4, the seal member has a load point distance L of 6.7 mm and a penetration amount M of 3.7 m.
m, thickness T is 15 to 25 μm, and length in the longitudinal direction is 335.
mm.

The contact pressure of the seal member 17 with the developing sleeve 5 is 20 to 30 gF.

The sealing member 17 is manufactured as a sheet by punching with a press, and when the intrusion side of the mold is referred to as the punching-out side, the punching-down side comes into contact with the developing sleeve 5. As a result, the cost can be suppressed, and the generation of scratches on the developing sleeve due to the end surface of the seal member 17 can be prevented.

The seal member 17 can be formed of a rolled metal plate. In this case, the flatness of the seal member 17 is increased, the followability to the developing sleeve 5 is secured, and the toner collecting property is improved. be able to. Alternatively, a sheet made by edging can be used. Thereby, the yield rate of the seal member can be increased, and the performance of the seal member can be secured.

The power supply 20 (FIG. 1)
), The same bias as that of the developing sleeve 5 is applied, and the developing sleeve 5 has the same potential. Therefore, the undeveloped toner that has not been consumed in the development in the development area is always taken into the developing container 14 in a stable state without receiving an electric field that is peeled off in the direction of the seal member 17, and the undeveloped toner from the lower portion of the developing sleeve 5 Is prevented from leaking.

In this embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a process cartridge comprising a developing device detachable from the image forming apparatus main body has been described. However, the present invention is fixed in the image forming apparatus main body and only the toner is supplied. The present invention can also be applied to a developing device having such a configuration, or a process cartridge in which a developing device and a photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade, a waste toner container, and a charging device are integrally formed and which can be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. it can.

Embodiment 2 Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the seal member 27 has a two-layer structure in order to achieve both the conductivity of the seal member 27 and the reduction of the contact pressure.

The layer on the contact side between the developing sleeve 5 and the seal member 27, that is, the sleeve contact layer 271 is a PET sheet, the thickness is 25 μm, and the electrode layer 272 is aluminum.
The thickness was 10 μm.

The above-mentioned sealing member 27 can be manufactured by a coat sheet or vapor deposition. This facilitates handling of the seal member itself during assembly, and can increase productivity.

As in the first embodiment, the same bias as that of the developing sleeve 5 is applied to the electrode layer 272 of the seal member 27 from the power source 20 (see FIG. 1), and the potential of the developing sleeve 5 becomes the same. ing.

According to this configuration, even when a thin metal is used for the lower layer, the developing sleeve contact portion is a PET sheet, so that the electrode layer 272 is not scraped, and a stable conductivity can be obtained for a long period of time. it can. At the same time, in this configuration, the contact pressure between the developing sleeve 5 and the seal member 27 is set to 2 to 3
gF. Further, the selection range of the contact pressure can be greatly expanded by selecting the material and thickness of the sleeve contact layer 271 and the electrode layer 272.

Embodiment 3 Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the bias is applied to the seal member 17 in parallel from the power supply 20 in the same manner as the developing sleeve 5. However, in the present embodiment, the power supply 20 is applied as the bias application route to the seal member 17. Is applied to the seal member 17 via the uncoated areas 52 and 53 on both sides of the coated area 51 of the developing sleeve 5.

Also in this configuration, the sealing member 17 is directly connected to the developing sleeve 5 so that the developing sleeve 5
The same potential as in the above embodiment can be obtained, and a durable developing device with a simple configuration can be obtained.

Embodiment 4 Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the bias application route for the seal member 17 similar to that of the third embodiment, a configuration is provided in which a dedicated bias application route is added. In other words, a configuration is adopted in which a metal seal bias metal plate 70 such as phosphor bronze is laid on the side facing the photosensitive drum 1, that is, on the back side of the developing sleeve 5, and is connected to the seal member 17.

Thus, the bias application route to the seal member 17 is as follows: the power source 20 → the uncoated area 52, 53 of the developing sleeve 5 → the seal member 17, and the power source 20 → the seal bias metal plate 70 → the dedicated bias of the seal member 17 By applying a bias to each of the two routes, the seal member 17 is attached to the developing sleeve 5.
, And the undeveloped toner is reliably collected at the opening of the developing container 14 to prevent toner leakage.

The reason why the seal bias metal plate 70 is arranged on the back side of the developing sleeve 5 is to save space especially.

Embodiment 5 Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is a further development of the seal bias sheet metal 70 of the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sealing member 17 is supported on the upper end of the frame 18 of the developing container 4 as in the first embodiment. They are connected so as to overlap with each other, and further, the seal bias sheet metal 70, the support portion of the seal member 17, and the frame 18 are collectively sandwiched by the metal holder 80. Further, a convex portion 80a having a semicircular cross section was provided at a contact portion of the holder 80 with the seal bias sheet metal 70.

With this configuration, the seal bias sheet metal 7
0 and the sealing member 17 can be reliably conducted,
The bias from the power supply 20 ensures that the developing sleeve 5 and the seal member 17 have the same potential, so that the undeveloped toner can be reliably collected at the opening of the developing container 14 and toner leakage can be prevented.

The material of the metal holder 80 is preferably a phosphor bronze plate or the like, but is not limited thereto.

As a modified example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a seal bias metal plate 70 is directly attached to the upper end of the frame 18 of the developing container 4, and the seal member 17 is placed thereon.
And the support portion of the seal member 17, the seal bias metal plate 70, and the frame 18 may be collectively sandwiched by the metal holder 80.

Embodiment 6 Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, a bias power supply metal plate 35 is attached to one sleeve bearing 30 that rotatably supports the developing sleeve 5, and is connected to the power supply 20, and a bias from the power supply 20 is applied to the developing sleeve 5. It can be applied. Further, a coil spring contact 38 is provided on the developing sleeve 5 side of the sleeve bearing 30 and connected to the bias power supply metal plate 35. Further, the coil spring contact 38 extends from the extension 1 of the seal member 17 extending to the side surface of the frame 18 of the developing container 14.
7a to ensure conduction, and the bias from the power supply 20 is applied from the bias power supply plate 35 to the coil spring contact 38.
Is applied to the seal member 17 via the.

With the above-described configuration, by providing an application route of the power supply 20 → the bias power supply metal plate 35 → the coil spring contact 38 → the seal member 17, the same potential as the developing sleeve 5 can be ensured. Undeveloped toner can be reliably collected, and toner leakage can be prevented.

Embodiment 7 Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the power supply 20 and the seal member 17 are connected via a seal bias sheet metal 90 having one end in contact with the seal member 17, and the bias application route of the seal member 17 is an independent dedicated route. And the bias from the power source 20 is applied to the developing sleeve 5 and the sealing member 1.
7, the potential of the seal member 17 is set to be the same as that of the developing sleeve 5, and the undeveloped toner is reliably collected at the opening of the developing container 14 to prevent toner leakage. it can.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the contact portion of the seal bias sheet metal 90 with the seal member 17 is formed by a leaf spring-like portion 901 (a) or a convex shape portion 90.
By setting it to 5 (b), conduction with the seal member 17 can be ensured by line contact or surface contact. In addition, the plate spring-shaped (a) or convex-shaped (b) seal bias sheet metal 90 of FIG. 13 is a diagram viewed from the contact side.

Further, the seal bias sheet metal 90 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14, protrusions 903 and 907 are provided at respective portions of the leaf spring shape (a) or the convex shape (b) in the contact portion 901 with the seal member 17. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which conduction is ensured by point contact.

Eighth Embodiment Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the power supply 20 and the sealing member 17 are brought into contact with one another at the sealing member 17 by using a cable 92 instead of the sealing bias metal plate 90 in a configuration substantially similar to that of the seventh embodiment. And a bias route for the seal member 17 is configured as an independent dedicated route, and a bias from the power supply 20 is applied to the developing sleeve 5 and the seal member 17 independently of each other. Then, the potential of the seal member 17 was reliably set to the same potential as that of the developing sleeve 5.

Embodiment 9 In the ninth embodiment, a power supply 20 and a sealing member 17 are provided in a configuration substantially similar to that of the eighth embodiment, using a flexible printed wiring 95 instead of the cable 92 as shown in FIG. Are connected via a flexible printed wiring 95 having one end connected to the seal member 17 to form a dedicated route independent of the bias application route of the seal member 17, and the bias from the power supply 20 is applied to the developing sleeve 5 and the developing sleeve 5.
The configuration is applied independently to the seal member 17, the potential of the seal member 17 is set to the same potential as that of the developing sleeve 5, and the undeveloped toner is reliably collected at the opening of the developing container 14 to prevent toner leakage. be able to.

Embodiment 10 Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the seal bias metal plate 70 is connected to the seal member 17 along the side facing the photosensitive drum 1, that is, the back side of the developing sleeve 5. The route for applying the bias to the sealing member 17 is changed from the power supply 20 to the developing sleeve 5 to
Seal member 17, power supply 20 → seal bias sheet metal 70
→ By obtaining two routes with the dedicated bias route of the seal member 17 and applying a bias to each route,
The seal member 17 was made to have the same potential as the developing sleeve 5 without fail, and at the same time, a seal bias metal plate 70 was arranged on the back side of the developing sleeve 5 to save space.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the same configuration as that of the fourth embodiment, in order to save space and improve productivity, the seal bias metal plate 71 is placed on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 1 and developed. It was configured to be provided outside the sleeve 5.

Also in the present embodiment, the seal member 17 could be surely brought to the same potential as the developing sleeve 5.

[0095]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the developer seal member has a conductive material in a part or the whole area of the contact portion with the developer carrier, and when the bias is applied, When the developer seal member has the same potential as the developer carrier, the undeveloped developer on the developer carrier after development can be reliably collected at the opening to prevent developer leakage. An apparatus, a process cartridge including at least the developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device can be provided.

Further, since the developer sealing member is attached to the attaching portion of the developing container in a state where the attaching portion is elastically deformed, the developing device caused by the repetition of the developing operation is provided. The deformation of the developer seal member can prevent the seal performance from deteriorating,
A developing device capable of preventing toner leakage, a process cartridge including at least the developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device or the process cartridge can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a developing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of the developing device according to the first embodiment when the developing sleeve is viewed from a direction of an arrow X and a developing sleeve is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a process of installing a seal member in a developing container in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contact state between a developing sleeve and a seal member in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contact state between a developing sleeve and a seal member according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a bias application route of a developing device in a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a bias application route of a developing device in a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a contact state between a developing sleeve and a seal member and a contact point of a seal bias sheet metal in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a modification of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic exploded view showing a contact portion between a seal member and a spring contact in a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a bias application route and a seal bias sheet metal of a developing device in a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing contact portions (a) and (b) of a seal bias sheet metal with a seal member in a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a modification of the contact portions (a) and (b) of the seal bias sheet metal with the seal member in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a bias application route and a cable of a developing device in an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a bias application route and a flexible printed wiring of a developing device in a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a bias application route and a seal bias sheet metal of the developing device in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a conventional developing device.

19 is a view of the developing device in FIG. 18 when the developing sleeve is viewed from the direction of arrow X, with the developing sleeve omitted.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contact state between a developing sleeve and a seal member of the developing device of FIG. 18;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 photosensitive drum (image carrier) 4 developing device (process cartridge) 14 developing container 17, 27 developer seal member 18 frame (wall) 20 power supply 38 coil spring 70, 71, 90 seal bias sheet metal 92 cable 95 flexible print wiring

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuharu Hoshi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenji Matsuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside the corporation

Claims (45)

[Claims] A developing container having an opening for accommodating the developer, a developer carrier rotatably disposed at the opening to carry and transport the developer, and one end at the opening. An elastic developer that is attached to the wall of the developer container below the developer carrier and is disposed so that the free end of the other end is rubbed against the surface of the developer carrier, and is wider than the development area. In a developing device including a seal member, the developer seal member has a conductive material in a part or the entire area of a contact portion with the developer carrier, and when a bias is applied,
The developing device, wherein the developer seal member has the same potential as the developer carrier. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer seal member has a dedicated bias application route. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer seal member has direct continuity with the developer carrier outside the developing area. 4. A bias application route to the developer seal member includes a bias application route dedicated to the developer seal member, and a bias application route that is directly connected to the developer carrier outside the development area. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bias applying contact to the developer sealing member is made conductive as a surface contact or a line contact using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring. The developing device according to claim 2. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is point-contacted by using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring to ensure conduction. Developing device. 7. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is in contact with a cable or a flexible printed wiring to ensure conduction. 8. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the dedicated bias application route is formed through a back side of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. 9. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the dedicated bias application route is formed outside an end face of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. 10. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer sealing member is attached to an attaching portion of the developing container in a state where the attaching portion is elastically deformed. 11. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer seal member is in contact with said developer carrier on a side of a pull-out. 12. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer seal member is a metal rolled plate. 13. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer seal member is formed by using a vapor-deposited or coated sheet. 14. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer seal member uses a sheet extracted by a press. 15. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer seal member uses a sheet made by edging. 16. A developer container having an opening for accommodating a developer, a developer carrier rotatably disposed at the opening to carry and transport the developer, and one end at the opening. An elastic developer that is attached to the wall of the developing container below the developer carrier, and is disposed so that the free end of the other end is slid on the surface of the developer carrier, and is wider than the developing area. A process cartridge that includes at least a developing device having a seal member and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the developer seal member includes a conductive material on a part or the entire area of a contact portion with the developer carrier. And when bias is applied,
A process cartridge wherein the developer seal member has the same potential as the developer carrier. 17. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said developer seal member has a dedicated bias application route. 18. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the developer sealing member has direct continuity with the developer carrier outside a developing area. 19. A bias application route to the developer seal member includes a bias application route dedicated to the developer seal member, and a bias application route directly outside the developer carrier and the development area.
17. The process cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising a bias application route for conducting. 20. The bias applying contact to the developer seal member is reliably conducted as a surface contact using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring, or a line contact. The process cartridge according to claim 17. 21. A bias applying contact to the developer seal member is made to be a point contact by using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring to ensure conduction. Process cartridge. 22. The process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is contacted by using a cable or a flexible printed wiring so as to ensure conduction. 23. The process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the dedicated bias application route is formed through a back side of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. 24. The process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the dedicated bias application route is formed outside an end face of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. 25. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the developer seal member is attached in a state where an attachment portion to the developing container is elastically deformed. 26. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said developer seal member is in contact with said developer carrying member on a side of a pull-out. 27. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said developer seal member is a metal rolled plate. 28. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said developer seal member is formed by using a vapor deposited or coated sheet. 29. The process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the developer seal member uses a sheet extracted by a press. 30. The developer seal member according to claim 16, wherein a sheet made by edging is used.
Process cartridge. 31. A developing container having an image bearing member for carrying an image, having an opening for accommodating a developer, and a developer rotatably disposed at the opening to carry and transport the developer. A carrier, one end of which is attached to the developing container wall below the developer carrier at the opening, and the other free end is arranged to rub against the surface of the developer carrier; An image forming apparatus having a developing device having an elastic developer seal member wider than the area, wherein the developer seal member is electrically conductive to a part or the entire area of the contact portion with the developer carrier. Material, and when bias is applied,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the developer seal member has the same potential as the developer carrier. 32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the developer seal member has a dedicated bias application route. 33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the developer sealing member has direct continuity with the developer carrier outside a developing area. 34. A bias application route to the developer seal member includes a bias application route dedicated to the developer seal member, and a bias application route directly outside the developer carrier and the development area.
32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a bias application route for conducting. 35. The method according to claim 35, wherein the bias application contact to the developer seal member is made conductive by a surface contact or a line contact using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring. The image forming apparatus according to claim 32. 36. The contact point for applying a bias to the developer seal member is point-contact using a conductive metal plate, a metal plate spring, or a coil spring to ensure conduction. Image forming apparatus. 37. The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the bias applying contact to the developer seal member is in contact with a cable or a flexible printed wiring to ensure conduction. 38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the dedicated bias application route is formed through a back side of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. 39. The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the dedicated bias application route is formed through an outer side of an end face of the developer carrier facing the image carrier. 40. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the developer sealing member is attached in a state where an attachment portion to the developing container is elastically deformed. 41. An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said developer seal member is in contact with said developer carrier on a side of a pull-out. 42. An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said developer seal member is a metal rolled plate. 43. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the developer seal member is formed by using a vapor-deposited or coated sheet. 44. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the developer seal member uses a sheet extracted by a press. 45. The developer seal member according to claim 31, wherein a sheet made by edging is used.
Image forming apparatus.